When I first started Princess Painting 11 years ago, I never dreamed how rewarding of a career it would turn out to be. It all started when I bought my first home. I quickly found out how paint could create an environment. It was and still is, the least expensive way to make the biggest impact on any project. You could have the most beautiful space, and without the right color you would never know it. You also could have the most hideous space, and with the right color you would never know it. I had the most hideous, and we made it beautiful!

My father owns  a construction company, and my mother owned a dye-able shoe store for many years. She played a huge role in my understanding of colors… she would mix colors and perfectly match a swatch of a dress for shoes and handbags.  The name Princess Painting came from my father. When I would paint for him, my father would announce “The princess is coming today so watch your language!”. So the crew would refer to me as “the princess painting”. They even made a sign once on a piece of cardboard, as a joke, but it stuck and my business began to grow.

What I didn’t realize was how happy it made me and the people I worked for. It changed my life as I was changing others’ lives, just by adding color or shifting furniture. You could see the personality of the homeowner come out of the room. Their homes were finally complete!

I am so fortunate to be able to do something I love. I have worked for the nicest people over the years. When I got married in 2007, I looked around the room and realized it was filled with clients.

To this day I continue to educate myself through Benjamin Moore and many interior designers.

This is my purpose in life and I will never, could never stop:-)

Truly,

Gretchen

IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THE THINGS YOU LOVE.

Where you spend your time is almost as important as how you spend your time. Creating a balanced environment will increase the quality of your life. Most of us do not think of environment as the actual pieces around us.  However, it plays a huge role. The right colors can make you happy! Organization and proper placement of things (tables, desks, beds, mirrors) can effect how you feel about your space. The right setting for an office can create more success. Its not superstition …its energy.

We’ve all been in places where we felt very comfortable and “at home.” On the other hand, we’ve also been in places where we couldn’t wait to leave but we weren’t sure why. This is how Feng Shui affects us. When our living and working environments are balanced, and we have positive associations with the objects surrounding us, a sense of harmony and well-being is created….in other words, good Feng Shui!

What is Feng Shui?

There seems to be quite a bit of confusion surrounding the term Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway) so it may be helpful to start with what Feng Shui is not. Feng Shui is not an Asian decorating style, religion or simply about arranging furniture. Feng Shui is about making conscious choices about how you live your life and the objects you surround yourself with. It is an ancient philosophy that examines how various aspects in our environments can affect how the energy (Ch’i) flows in our dwelling spaces and how that flow affects the individuals residing there. Feng Shui brings us into balance and harmony with our surroundings so that we can live a joyful, prosperous life.

Everything in the universe is made up of energy (Ch’i), so everything we choose to surround ourselves with affects us physically and emotionally. Ch’I is the vital energy that activates, connects, and carries us through the changes of life. Just like the people we choose to surround ourselves with, can either be positive or negative influences, our environments also serve as positive or negative influences. Our physical surroundings have a significant impact on our mind, body and spirit.

There is an age-old experiment that has been done many times. In one room a glass of water and next to it the sounds of classical music. In another room a glass of water hearing loud and aggressive sounds. The first glass of water crystallizes, the second evaporates. Think of all the objects surrounding you either positive or negative. The right flow can create balance and happiness in your life.